Entropic Communications

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Technology investors used to say “When Intel sneezes, the semiconductor sector catches a cold.” While it is still true that many chip stocks still more or less follow Intel’s lead, there are now so many niche uses for integrated circuits (which is the more modern name for what used to be called read »

In trading on Tuesday, shares of U.S. Bancorp’s Series G Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (NYSE: USB.PRN) were yielding above the 5.5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.50), with shares changing hands as low as $27.27 on the day. This compares to an average yield of 5.73% in the “Financial” preferred stock category, read »

In this series, we look through the most recent Dividend Channel ”DividendRank” report, and then we cherry pick only those companies that have experienced insider buying within the past six months. The officers and directors of a company tend to have a unique insider’s view of the business, and presumably the only reason an insider would read »

Many fear the creation of monopolies and oligopolies as the cable sector consolidates, but the deal-making frenzy may actually benefit consumers, similar to a frenzy of M&A activity in the wireless sector between 2012 and 2014. read »

Among the underlying components of the S&P 500 index, we saw noteworthy options trading volume today in Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE: TAP), where a total of 32,066 contracts have traded so far, representing approximately 3.2 million underlying shares. That amounts to about 217.6% of TAP’s average daily trading volume over the past month of read »

The TJX Companies (TJX) has raised the amount of its quarterly dividend by 20% from the last dividend paid. The Board declared a regular quarterly dividend in the amount of $.21 per share, payable June 4, 2015, to shareholders of record on May 14, 2015.

The last couple of years has witnessed stiff competition in the U.S. restaurant industry, primarily among the fast food segment for the breakfast market share. Some of the major fast food brands, such as McDonald’s, Restaurant Brands International (Burger King and Tim Hortons), Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Brands, have revamped their menu, especially read »

We expect iron ore prices to remain subdued in the near term, with prices recovering gradually only after the global supply glut dissipates. However, there is a possibility of a sharper V-shaped recovery in prices, if sufficient high-cost iron ore supply goes out of the market. The current level of iron ore prices is too low to sustain read »

On the domestic front, the demand for coal at electric utilities seems to be declining. For the month of January, coal consumption at electric utilities declined 15% year-on-year, leading to a 16% rise in coal stock piles. The low prices in the global coal markets and weak demand at utilities are the major reasons that railroads are predicting read »

The iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Tuesday, with over 411,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 38,000. Shares of URTH were trading flat on the day.

Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Tuesday were Bank of America (BAC), trading down about 0.2% read »

In trading on Tuesday, the EGShares Emerging Markets Consumer ETF (ECON) is outperforming other ETFs, up about 0.8% on the day. Components of that ETF showing particular strength include shares of Vipshop Holdings (VIPS), up about 2.9% and shares of BRF Brasil Foods (BRFS), up about 1.3% on the day.

Though our $97.11 price estimate for Alibaba’s stock represents near-15% premium to the market,we think there are certain triggers and plausible developments that can swing the stock substantially over the next few years, assuming the market prices in these triggers correctly. Specifically, we think the possibility of increased competition in read »

In trading on Tuesday, precious metals shares were relative laggards, down on the day by about 2%. Helping drag down the group were shares of Midway Gold (MDW), down about 18.1% and shares of Eurasian Minerals (EMXX) down about 6.9% on the day.

Also lagging the market Tuesday are metals & mining shares, down on the day by about read »

The increasing consolidation in the industry, rising demand from non-PC markets, increasingly diversified end markets, and improving memory product prices, helped return the company to profitability in 2013. As a result of the continued improvement in market dynamics, Micron reported record revenue of $16.4 billion, record net income of over $3 read »

In trading on Tuesday, music & electronics stores shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 2.5%. Leading the group were shares of Conns (CONN), up about 12% and shares of Gamestop (GME) up about 2.1% on the day.

Also showing relative strength are apparel stores shares, up on the day by about 0.9% as a group, led by read »

Automatic Data Processing generates a little over 3% of its revenues from interest earned on funds held for clients. Despite its relatively insignificant contribution to the top line, the interest earned forms an important part of the company’s valuation, accounting for more than 36% of our price estimate. This is because the interest earned read »